Archive for July 2010

We didn’t exactly kill the fatted calf but there was much rejoicing in our house when our prodigal pet Cyclone was found. He turned up on a neighbor’s doorstep and they held on to him until I got there – the poor man got himself scratched for his trouble. However, we are thrilled to have the beastie back. We missed him and worried about him and how he was faring in the hot desert sun. He seems happy to back with us too.

We are just returned from a trip to the Dead Sea. It was wonderful – the scenery was beautiful and the hotel was lovely. More of a resort than a hotel really – several restaurants and pools that looked liked they ended where the Dead Sea began. Swimming in the Dead Sea itself was quite an experience – bobbing about like a cork and trying not to let the water into one’s eyes or mouth. That salt water stings like crazy – the life guards are very patient about helping to rinse out eyes etc. At night, you can see the lights from the opposite shore, Jericho and Jerusalem, according to our waiter – should only be one hour by car, but five hours with all the checkpoints, also according to our waiter.

KAUST is very quiet at this time of year. Most people are away for at least a portion of the summer. The KAUST ladies are staying in touch with each other via email and Facebook – everyone enjoying their vacations but looking forward to returning home to KAUST, maybe even a little surprised that they have missed their new home. It’s been less than a year since KAUST opened its doors but we have become a community, of students, professors, researchers, staff, and families. We’ve come from seventy different countries and we’ve become friends.

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